Choose your AliExpress shipping method by asking three questions:
(1) How urgent is this? If you need it in under 10 days, choose Express. If you can wait 2-3 weeks, choose AliExpress Standard. If you can wait 4-6 weeks, choose free shipping.
(2) How much is the item worth? Items under $10 usually work with free shipping. Items $10-$100 justify AliExpress Standard. Items over $100 often warrant Express.
(3) How important is tracking? If you need reliable tracking, choose AliExpress Standard or Express. If tracking doesn’t matter, free shipping works.
The Simple Decision Framework
Step 1: Determine your urgency level
Ask yourself: When do I actually need this item?
Need it in 1-2 weeks: Choose Express shipping (DHL, FedEx, UPS)
- Costs $15 to $60
- Delivers in 5 to 12 days
- Best for urgent orders, gifts with deadlines, time-sensitive purchases
Need it in 2-4 weeks: Choose AliExpress Standard Shipping
- Costs free to $8
- Delivers in 10 to 25 days
- Best for most regular orders where you want decent speed
Can wait 4-6 weeks: Choose Free Standard Shipping
- Costs $0
- Delivers in 20 to 45 days
- Best when saving money matters more than speed
Step 2: Consider your order value
The item’s cost should influence how much you spend on shipping.
Orders under $10: Free shipping usually makes sense. Paying $5 shipping on a $3 item doubles your cost. Only pay for faster shipping if you’re truly in a hurry.
Orders $10 to $50: AliExpress Standard Shipping is the sweet spot. Paying $3 to $6 to save 2-3 weeks on a $20 to $40 item is worthwhile for most people.
Orders $50 to $100: AliExpress Standard or faster. Your item is valuable enough that reliable tracking and reasonable speed matter. Consider Express if the item is important.
Orders over $100: Seriously consider AliExpress Express shipping. The item is valuable enough that premium shipping’s peace of mind, speed, and reliable tracking justify the cost. Express also often includes better insurance coverage.
Step 3: Evaluate tracking importance
How much do you need to know where your package is?
Tracking is critical if:
- The item is valuable
- You need to plan around delivery
- Checking tracking gives you peace of mind
- You’ve had packages lost before
→ Choose: AliExpress Standard or Express (both have reliable tracking)
Tracking doesn’t matter much if:
- It’s a cheap item you can replace easily
- You’re comfortable with “it’ll arrive when it arrives”
- You’re not checking constantly anyway
→ Choose: Free shipping works fine (basic tracking exists but updates are sparse)
Practical Scenarios and Best Choices
Scenario 1: Buying 5 phone cases for $12 total, not urgent
Best choice: Free Standard Shipping
Why: Very cheap order, no urgency, tracking not critical. Save the $5 shipping cost and wait patiently.
Scenario 2: Buying a $35 smartwatch, want it within 3 weeks
Best choice: AliExpress Standard Shipping
Why: Reasonable order value, moderate urgency, want tracking to know when it arrives. The $4 to $6 shipping cost is worth 2 weeks faster delivery.
Scenario 3: Buying a $150 camera accessory, need it in 10 days for a trip
Best choice: Express Shipping (DHL or FedEx)
Why: Valuable item, tight deadline, need reliability. The $30 to $40 shipping cost is justified by urgency and item value.
Scenario 4: Buying craft supplies for $25, no rush, want to track it
Best choice: AliExpress Standard Shipping
Why: Low to moderate value, no urgency, but you want reliable tracking. Good balance between cost and visibility.
Scenario 5: Buying 20 items totaling $60 from same seller, can wait
Best choice: Free shipping or cheap AliExpress Standard
Why: Bulk order where shipping costs multiply. Check if seller offers combined shipping discount. If not, free shipping saves significant money across 20 items.
Scenario 6: Buying a gift for someone, event is 5 weeks away
Best choice: AliExpress Standard Shipping
Why: Enough buffer time for 2-3 week delivery with 2-week cushion for delays. No need to pay express prices when you have time.
Scenario 7: Buying replacement part for broken item you use daily
Best choice: Express Shipping
Why: High urgency due to daily need. The premium cost is worth getting functionality back quickly.
Factors to Consider Beyond Speed and Cost
Your country’s shipping infrastructure
Some countries receive faster AliExpress shipping than others due to better logistics partnerships and proximity to China.
- Fast shipping countries: US, UK, Australia, Spain, Germany, France, South Korea, Singapore
- Moderate shipping countries: Canada, Italy, most EU countries, UAE, Saudi Arabia
- Slower shipping countries: Brazil, Argentina, some African countries, remote regions
If you’re in a country with strong shipping infrastructure, AliExpress Standard works great. If you’re in a slower region, consider that free shipping might take 6-8 weeks instead of 4-6 weeks.
Customs clearance in your country
Countries with efficient customs see faster delivery. Countries with slow customs add unpredictable delays.
- Fast customs: Most EU countries (after VAT reforms), Australia, US, Singapore
- Slow customs: Brazil (notoriously slow), some Middle Eastern countries, some Asian countries
If your country has slow customs, build extra buffer time into any shipping choice.
Seller’s shipping options
Not all sellers offer all shipping methods. When comparing products from different sellers, check which shipping methods each seller provides.
Sometimes a slightly more expensive product from a seller offering better shipping options is worth it versus a cheaper product from a seller with limited shipping.
Package size and weight
Large or heavy items have limited shipping options and higher costs.
For items over 2kg, free shipping often isn’t available. AliExpress Standard might cost $10 to $20 instead of $3 to $5. Express shipping gets very expensive as weight increases.
Check shipping costs before finalizing large or heavy purchases. Sometimes buying locally makes more sense when shipping costs $30 to $50.
Return likelihood
If there’s a chance you’ll need to return the item (uncertain about size, quality, compatibility), faster shipping is advantageous.
With Express or AliExpress Standard, you get the item sooner and have more time to evaluate it within the buyer protection window. With free shipping taking 6 weeks, you might receive the item with only 2-3 weeks of buyer protection remaining.
How to Compare Options at Checkout
Step 1: Add item to cart and proceed to checkout
Enter your shipping address. AliExpress will show all available shipping methods for that item to your location.
Step 2: Review the options presented
You’ll see something like:
- Free Standard Shipping: $0.00, arrives Feb 25 – Mar 15
- AliExpress Standard Shipping: $4.89, arrives Feb 15 – Feb 28
- Express Shipping (DHL): $24.99, arrives Feb 10 – Feb 14
Step 3: Calculate the differences
Time difference: Express saves 10-15 days vs AliExpress Standard, which saves 15-20 days vs free shipping.
Cost difference: Express costs $20 more than AliExpress Standard, which costs $5 more than free.
Value proposition: Is 15 days faster delivery worth $5? Is 25 days faster delivery worth $25?
Step 4: Make your decision
Based on your urgency, budget, and order value, select the method that makes sense.
For most orders where you’re not desperate for speed but don’t want to wait forever, AliExpress Standard hits the sweet spot.
Red Flags to Watch For
Suspiciously cheap items with expensive shipping
Some sellers list items at $1 with $15 shipping to appear in low-price search results. Always check total cost, not just item price.
Unrealistic delivery promises
A seller promising “5-7 days delivery with free shipping from China” is lying. Free shipping from China takes minimum 3-4 weeks in the best scenarios.
Seller’s Shipping Method with no details
If shipping method just says “Seller’s Shipping Method” without specifying carrier or estimated delivery time, check reviews carefully. Some sellers use unreliable methods.
No tracking number provided
If you paid for shipping that should include tracking but the seller doesn’t provide a tracking number within 3-5 days of “shipped” status, contact them immediately.
Special Situations
Ordering multiple items from different sellers
Each seller ships separately, so each has its own shipping decision. You might choose:
- Free shipping for the $5 items
- AliExpress Standard for the $30 items
- Express for the $80 item you need quickly
Don’t feel locked into one shipping method across all orders.
Ordering during peak seasons
Chinese New Year (late Jan/Feb), Singles Day (Nov 11), Black Friday, Christmas all cause shipping delays.
During peak seasons, add 1-2 weeks to all estimates. AliExpress Standard might take 3-4 weeks instead of 2-3 weeks. Free shipping might take 6-8 weeks instead of 4-6 weeks.
Consider Express shipping during peak seasons if you need reliability, as it’s least affected by volume surges.
Items with shipping restrictions
Batteries, liquids, aerosols, large items have shipping restrictions. You might not have all options available.
If only one or two shipping methods are offered, that’s likely due to the item type. Choose from what’s available.
Shipping to remote or rural addresses
Rural addresses, islands, remote regions add 3-7 days to all delivery estimates. The “last mile” from regional hub to your address takes longer.
If you live in a remote area, factor this into your decision. What AliExpress estimates as “14-20 days” might realistically be 20-27 days for your location.
Cost-Benefit Analysis Framework
Use this mental framework when deciding:
For free shipping:
- You save: $3 to $8
- You sacrifice: 15 to 25 days of time
- Worth it if: The item is cheap and you’re not in a hurry
For AliExpress Standard vs free:
- You pay: $3 to $8 more
- You gain: 15 to 20 days faster delivery, better tracking
- Worth it if: Your time is worth more than $0.20 to $0.50 per day saved
For Express vs AliExpress Standard:
- You pay: $15 to $50 more
- You gain: 5 to 15 days faster delivery, premium tracking, higher reliability
- Worth it if: You truly need it fast, the item is valuable, or peace of mind justifies the cost
Most people find AliExpress Standard hits the best value proposition, saving 15-20 days for just $3 to $8.
Quick Decision Checklist
Work through this checklist when you’re at checkout:
- When do I actually need this item? (Determines urgency)
- How much is this item worth? (Influences shipping budget)
- Do I need reliable tracking? (Rules out basic free shipping if yes)
- What’s my total budget including shipping? (Sets maximum)
- What shipping methods are available for this item? (Defines your options)
- What are the delivery estimates for each option? (Shows speed differences)
- What’s the cost difference between options? (Shows price differences)
- Is the faster option worth the extra cost for this item? (Final decision)
- Am I ordering during a peak season? (Adds time to all estimates)
- Do I live in a remote area? (Adds time to all estimates)
Going through these questions takes 60 seconds and ensures you make the right choice for your specific situation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Always choosing the cheapest option
Free shipping saves money but costs time. If you’re buying something you want to use soon, paying $5 to get it 3 weeks earlier is usually worth it.
Always choosing the fastest option
Express shipping is expensive. If you don’t truly need the item in 7 days, you’re wasting money. Most orders don’t require express urgency.
Not checking estimated delivery dates
The dates matter. “Free shipping arrives March 1-20” vs “AliExpress Standard arrives Feb 10-18” is a massive difference. Always check the actual estimates, not just the method names.
Ignoring tracking availability
For orders over $20 to $30, tracking matters. It lets you know if there’s a problem in time to open a dispute before buyer protection expires. Don’t skip tracking to save $3.
Not factoring in your location
If you live rurally or in a country with slow customs, add extra time to all estimates. A method estimated at 15 days might realistically take 25 days for your location.
Ordering too close to when you need it
Never order something you need by a specific date without substantial buffer. Add at least 1-2 weeks cushion beyond the maximum estimate to account for delays.
Takeaway
There’s no single “best” shipping method for all AliExpress orders. The right choice depends on your specific situation: urgency, budget, order value, and tracking needs.
For most orders, AliExpress Standard Shipping provides the best balance of speed, cost, and reliability. It’s fast enough that you’re not waiting forever, cheap enough that it doesn’t hurt, and has tracking so you know what’s happening.
Choose free shipping when buying cheap items in bulk and time doesn’t matter. Choose Express when you actually need something quickly or the item is valuable enough that premium service makes sense.
Take 10 seconds at checkout to think through these factors rather than reflexively clicking the cheapest option. The right shipping choice improves your entire AliExpress experience, while the wrong choice leads to regret about either waiting too long or spending too much.